Fan wheel



Jan. 1, 1946. A. F. L. ANDERSON 2,392,113

FAN WHEEL Filed July 22, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR .AxEL EL. nupsksou,

- r TTORNEY6 Jan. 1, 1946. a A. F. ANDERSON FAN WHEEL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 22, 1944 INVENTOR AXEL HIE-ANDERSON,

BY yUpurm/v ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 1, 1946 UNiTED STATES PATENT OFFICE FAN WHEEL Axel F. L. Anderson, Detroit Mich., assignor to American Blower Corporat on, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application July 22, 1944, Serial No. 545,102 Claims. (Cl. 230 -134) This invention relates to fan wheels, or blower wheels of the multiple-blade type, wherein air is taken into the wheel axially thereof and discharged radially of the wheel for peripheral discharge from a fan housing that is positioned around the fan wheel. Multiple-blade fan wheels of the type wherein the blades are positioned substantially radially relative to the axis of the wheel and parallel thereto, are of a wellknown type, and such wheels are known as a double-inlet or single-inlet type, depending upon whether the air is taken into the wheel from one side or both sides of the wheel. Blower wheels of a relatively narrow character are conveniently constructed so as to be a single-inlet wheel, the back plate of the wheel in this instance carrying the hub that supports the wheel upon a drive shaft. As the width of the wheel increases, it becomes more diflicult to provide for eflicient air movement into the wheel when it is of the singleinlet type, and hence fan wheels that have a substantial width are usually of the double-inlet type wherein a supporting member is provided, substantially midway between the opposite ends of the wheel, that carries a hub for supporting the wheel upon a drive shaft.

The conventional manner of constructing a double-inlet fan wheel of the aforementioned type has been to support the multiple blades of the vane wheels between rings or rims at opposite ends of the blades and to which they are secured, and then provide a spider midway be- -tween the opposite ends of the blades, and carried by the blades for supporting the hub. However, such a construction has not provided rigidity to the mid-sections of the multiple blades of the fan wheel, and when the blades are of a substantial length, considerable flexibility is imparted in the blades which causes their vibration during operation of the fan wheel.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a fan wheel, or blower wheel of the multiple blade type wherein each blade of the fan wheel is securely held within a center plate of the fan wheel.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a fan wheel of the multiple-blade type wherein the blades extend through a plate or ring member for supporting the middle sections of the blades, and wherein a cam plate or cam ring is provided for engaging each of the blades to retain them solidly in position inthe center plate.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a fan wheel in accordance with either of the foregoing objects wherein the center plate may also carry the hub for supporting the fan wheel upon 'a drive shaft.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a method of manufacturing and assembling a fan wheel of the multiple-blade type that is provided witha center plate for engaging and supporting the blades of the fan wheel.

Still another object of the invention is to providea fan wheel of the multiple-blade type wherein a center plate is provided with a plurality of slots therein to receive the blades in a relatively loose condition, and also wherein a cam plate, adapted to engage each of the blades extending through the center plate for forcing each ofthe blades into positive engagement with the center plate and thereby rigidly support the center portions of each of the blades, is positioned upon the center plate.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent from the drawings and the following description:

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical cross-section through a fan wheel of the multiple-blade type constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view, partially in end elevation, that is taken at right angles to the cross-sectional view of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of the fan wheel oi'this invention illustrating the assembly of the blades upon the center late. p Figure 4 is a perspective elevational view of the assembly of a blade in the center plate as retained therein by the camplate.

Figure 5 is a perspective elevational view similar to that of Figure 4 but taken at substantially therefrom to show the opposite face of the blade.

Figure 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken through the blades of a slightly modified structure of the fan wheel.

Figure '7 is an end elevational view of a portion of the rim of the fan wheel showing the manner in which the blades are attached to the rim.

In this invention, the fan wheel consists of the rims or rings l0 and II between which a plurality of fan-blades I 2 are positioned. The blades l2 are arcuately shaped in cross-section as illustrated in Figure 2, which shape is conventional for blades of this type.

The rims Ill and II are provided with a pair of slots l3 and M for each of the blades i2, the

slots l3 and I4 being disposed on the same are of curvature as the blades l2. The blades l2 are provided at each end thereof with the protrusions 5 and I3 that extend into the slots l3 and N in the rims l and H. When the protrusions l and I6 are riveted down upon the rims l0 and II, the blades are thereby securely held to the rims.

The rims I0 and H each have a central opening l1 and I8 respectively, through which the air passes into the interior of the fan wheel assembly from both ends of the fan wheel.

Each of the blades |2 extends through the center plate 20, or which may be in the form of a ring, that is provided with arcuate slots 2| to receive the blades l2. The arcuate slots 2| are of a sufficient size to permit relatively easy insertion of the blades |2 through the center plate 20.

A cam plate 22, which may be in the form of a ring, is positioned adjacent the center plate 2|.

The cam plate 22 has the peripheral edge thereof cut so as to provide a plurality of cam surfaces 23. One of the cam surfaces 23 is positioned adjacent each of the blades l2 and engages the same in a manner hereinafter described.

The blades |2 are each provided with a notch 24 positioned midway between opposite ends of the blade. This notch 24 in each of the blades |2 receives a cam surface 23 of the cam plate 22 to thereby locate the cam plate 22 centrally of the fan wheel.

In assembly of the fan wheel, the cam plate 22 is rotated in a clockwise direction, as indicated by the arrow on Figure 2 to cause the cam surfaces 23 to engage the notches 24 in the blades i2 and thereby force the blades l2 radially outwardly on the axis of the fan wheel to retain them in positive engagement with the slots 2| in the center plate 20, and thereby rigidly fasten the plates between center plate 2| and the cam plate 22.

The cam plate 22 and the center plate 2| are each provided with an opening on the axis of the fan wheel to receive the hub 25. The hub 25 may be secured to the center plate 2| and the cam plate 22 by means of bolts 26 extending therethrough, or the hub 25 may be suitably welded to either of the plates 2| or 22. The hub 25 has the bore 21 to receive the shaft for supporting and driving the fan wheel.

In assembling the fan wheel thus described, the blades I2 are positioned upon one of the rims ID or II with the protrusions I5 and I6 extending through the openings l3 and I4 provided in the respective rims. The center plate 20 is then placed upon the blades l2 and moved to a position adjacent the notches 24. The cam plate 22 is then placed upon the center plate 2| with the cam surfaces 23 in position adjacent the notches 24. At this time, the cam plate 22 and the center plate 2| are positioned loosely relative to one another. The opposite rim is then assembled upon the blades l2 with the'protrusions I5 and I8 extending through the openings l3 and I4 provided in the rim.

The assembly of the elements may then be temporarily held together by striking over several of the protrusions |5 or IE to prevent the blades '2 from falli g out of the rims l0 and II. The fan wheel thus temporarily assembled may be carried to a suitable apparatus for riveting over the ends of the protrusions |5 and I6 and thereby rigidly securing the rims I0 and II to the blades l2.

The fan wheel thus far assembled is then placed in a suitable fixture provided with means for entering the holes 28 provided in the center plate 20 to retain the fan wheel and the center plate stationary with respect to the fixture. A suitable operating member engages the holes 2! provided in the cam plate 22 for rotating the cam plate 22 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 2. The clockwise rotation of the cam plate 22 upon the center plate 2| causes the cam surface 23 on the cam plate 22 to forcibly engage the notches 24 in the blades l2 and thereby urge the blades l2 radially outwardly of the center plate 20 to cause the outer ends of the blades l2 to engage the outer ends of the slots 2| in the center plate 20. Also, this forcible movement of the blades I 2 in the slots 2| of the center plate 20 will cause the surface 30 of the blades |2 to engage the edges of the slots 2| for more intimate engagement between the blades l2 and the center plate 20.

After the cam plate 22 has been rotated as heretofore mentioned to forcibly and rigidly hold the blades |2 in the slots 2| of the center plate 20, the cam plate 22 is welded to the center plate 20 by a suitable spot-welding operation between the plates 2| and 22 as illustrated at 3| of Figure 3, or a suitable rod-welding operation can be performed between the edges of the holes 32 in the cam plate 22 and the surface of the center plate 2 After the complete assembly of the fan wheel, the hub 25 can be suitably attached to the center plate 2| and the cam plate 22. If the hub 25 is bolted to the plates in the manner heretofore mentioned, the center plate 20 will be provided with slots 33 to permit proper alignment with the bolt opening in the cam plate 22 after the cam plate 22 arrives at its final position.

While the fan wheel of this invention is illus- In Figure 6 there is illustrated a slightly modified arrangement of the structure of the center plate and the cam plate of the fan wheel. In this modified structure, the center plate 20a is provided with a plurality of openings 35 that are adapted to receive the blades l2, which blades are constructed in the same manner as heretofore described and have the notch 24 therein disposed midway between opposite ends of the blades. The opening 35 is provided with an arcuately-shaped side 36 and a straight side 31. The arcuately-shaped side 35 of the opening 35 is shaped to engage the surface 30 of the blade I2.

The cam plate 224 is provided with a plurality of cam surfaces 230 for engaging the blades I! in the notched portions thereof in the manner heretofore described. The outward ends of the cam surfaces 23a carry the protrusions 41 that engage the face 38 of the blades |2 after the cam plate 22a has been rotated into its final position as heretofore described. The protrusions 41 prevent over-run of the cam surfaces 23a and also provide means to hold the blades tight in the cen- The assembly 01' the fan wheel using the structure in the center plate 20:: and the cam plate 22a as shown in Figure 6 is the same as heretofore described with regard to the structure illus-' trated in Figure 1. However, the openings 35 ma provide for slightly less difliculty in insert- 7 ing the blades l2 through the center plate 20a.

When the cam plate 22a is rotated in a clockwise direction, as indicated by the arrow in Figure 6, the cam surfaces 23a engage the notches 24 in the blades l2 to urge the same radially outwardly of the center plate 20a to cause the outer edges of the blades l2 to engage the outer edges of the openings 35, and urge the surface 30 of the blades l2 into engagement with the edge 36 of the Openings 35 by increasing the arcuate contour of the blades I2- slightly,-if necessary. The cam plate'22a may be rotated until the protrusions 31 engage the blades l2 and thereby securely hold the lower edges of the blades I! between the center plate 20a and the cam plate 22a, and in engagement with the edge surface 36 of the opening 35.

While the apparatus heretofore disclosed and described constitutes preferred forms of the invention, yet it will be understood that the apparatus is capable of alteration without departing from the spirit of the invention, and that all modifications that fall within the scope of the appended claims are intended to be included herein.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A fan wheel of the multiple-blade type that includes a plurality of blades disposed between rim members, a supporting plate for supporting said blades positioned intermediate the ends thereof and having openings therein to receive said blades, a second plate positioned upon said supporting plate and having cam surfaces on the peripheral edge thereof for individuall engaging the blades of the fan wheel to secure the blades between said supporting plate and said second plate upon rotation of said second plate relative to said supporting plate, and means protruding from said cam surfaces for engaging said blades to secure one edge thereof between said supporting plate and said second plate simultaneously with movement of the blade to ace the opposite edge thereof in engagement with said opening in said supporting plate.

2. A fan wheel of the multiple-blade type that includes a plurality of blades disposed between rim members, a supporting ring plate having slots therein to receive said blades and positioned be- 5 tween the ends of said blades, a second ring plate positioned upon said supporting ring plate having individual peripheral cam surfaces for individually engaging the inner ends of the blades of the fan wheel to individually secure the bladese between the outer ends of said slots in said supporting member and said cam surfaces on said second ring plate.

3. A fan wheel of the multiple-blade type that includes a plurality of blades disposed between rim members, a, supporting plate having slots therein to receive said blades and positioned'between the ends of said blades, a second plat p0- si'tioned upon said supporting plate having individual peripheral cam surfaces for individually engaging the inner ends of the blades of the fan wheel to individually secure the blades between the outer ends of said slots in said supporting member and said cam surfaces on said second plate, and means protruding from each of the cam surfaces for individually engaging a blade of the fan wheel to secure the blade between the wall of the respective slot receiving the blade in said supporting member and the respective protruding means on the cam surfaces.

4. A fan wheel of the multiple-blade type that rim members, a supporting plate having slots therein to receive said blades and positioned substantially midway between the ends of said blades, a second plate positioned upon said supporting plate having individual peripheral cam surfaces for individually engaging the inner ends of the blades of the fan wheel to individually secure the blades between the outer ends of said slots in tween the ends of said blades, 9. second plate'ring positioned upon said supporting plate ring having individual peripheral cam surfaces for individually engaging the inner ends of the blades of the fan wheel to individually secure the blades between the outer ends of said slots in said supporting member and said cam surfaces on said second plate, and notch means in at least some of said blades positioned between the ends thereof for positioning said second plate and said supporting plate in a determined location between the ends of said blades.

' 6. A fan wheel of the multiple-blade type that includes a plurality of blades disposed between rim members, a supporting plate having slots therein to receive said blades and positioned substantially midway between the ends of said blades, a second plate positioned upon said supporting plate having individual peripheral cam surfaces for individually engaging the inner ends of the blades of the fan wheel to individually secure the blades between the outer ends of said slots in said supporting member'and said cam surfaces on said second plate, and V-shaped notches in at least some of said blades positioned midway between the ends thereof for positioning said second plate and said supporting plate substantially midway between the ends of said blades.

7. A fan wheel of the multiple-blade type that includes a plurality of blades disposed between rim members, a supporting plate having slots therein to receive said blades and positioned substantially midway between the ends of said blades, a second plate positioned upon said supporting plate having individual peripheral cam surfaces for individually engaging the inner ends of the blades of the fan wheel to individually secure the blades between the outer ends of said slots in said supporting member and said cam surfaces on said second plate, means on at least some of said blades positioned midway between the ends thereof for positioning said second plate and said supporting plate substantially midway between the rim members, a supporting means positioned intermediate the ends of the blades for engaging at least one edge of each of the blades of the fan wheel, and cam means adapted for engaging the other edge of each of the blades rigidly to retain the blades against said supporting means.

9. A fan wheel of the multiple-blade type that includes a plurality of blades disposed between rim members, a supporting member positioned between the ends of the blades and through which the blades extend, and cam means carried by said supporting member for forcibly engaging each of the blades with the supporting member to rigidly secure the blades between the supporting member and the said means.

10. A fan wheel of the multiple-blade type that includes a plurality of blades, a supporting plate for said blades disposed intermediate the ends of said blades and having openings thereinto receive said blades, individual cam surfaces for individually engaging each of the blades of the fan wheel for rigidly securing the blades between said supporting member and said cam surfaces upon movement of the latter relative to the supporting member, and means for actuating all of said cam surfaces simultaneously.

11. In a fan wheel of the multiple-blade type, a blade support comprising, a supporting plate ring for supporting said blades positioned intermediate the ends thereof and having openings therein to receive said blades, and a second plate ring positioned adjacent said supporting plate and having cam surfaces on the peripheral edge thereof for individually engaging the blades of the fan wheel at one edge thereof to force the blades against said supporting plate upon rotation of said second plate relative thereto.

, 12. In a fan wheel of the multiple-blade type, a supporting plate for supporting said blades positioned intermediate the ends thereof and having openings therein to receive said blades, a second plate positioned adjacent said supporting plate and having cam surfaces on the peripheral edge thereof for individually engaging one edge of each of the blades of the fan wheel to force the blades against said supporting plate upon rotation of said second plate relative thereto, and

means on said blades disposed midway between the ends thereof engaged by either of said plates for centrally locating said second plate and said supporting plate relative to the ends of said blades.

13. A fan wheel of the multiple-blade type that includes a plurality of blades disposed between rim members, a supporting plate for supporting said blades positioned intermediate the ends thereof and having openings therein to receive said blades and to engage at least one edge and one side thereof, a second plate positioned adjacent said supporting plate and having cam surfaces on the peripheral edge thereof for individually engaging the other edge of each of the blades of the fan wheel to force the blades against said supporting plate upon rotation of said second plate relative thereto, and notch means in at least some of said blades disposed midway between the ends thereof engaged by at least one of said plates for centrally locating said plates relative to the ends of said blades.

14. In a fan wheel of the multiple-blade type, a blade support comprising a pair of adjacent plates, one of said plates having slots through which the blades pass to be engaged on at least one edge thereby, the other of said plates comprising cam means adapted when said plates are moved relatively to engage the other edges of said blades for forcing the same against said one plate, and means for securing said plates together when the blades are so secured.

15. In a fan wheel of the multiple-blade type, a blade support comprising a first plate having openings for receiving the blades and for engaging at least one edge and one side thereof, a plurality of cam surfaces for individually engaging the other edges of said blades for forcing the same against said first plate, a second plate supporting said cam surfaces and movable for simultaneously actuating the same for clamping said blades, and means for securing said plates together when said blades are clamped.

AXEL F. L. ANDERSON. 

